Amish Gunshot Case Begins Tuesday

January 9, 2014

LEON - The man whose gun was involved in the accidental shooting of an 8-year-old Amish boy will appear in Leon Court on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Eli W. Wengerd, 20, of Leon - the older brother of the victim - was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

On Dec. 12, the 8-year-old victim was shot in the chest while playing with a .22-caliber gun with his brothers.

According to Captain Robert Buchhardt of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred at approximately 8:30 a.m. inside the boy's home, where one of the boy's brothers allegedly picked up the gun and shot him.

"It appears to be an accident," Buchhardt said at the time. "They didn't know the gun was loaded."

The 8-year-old was transported to Brooks Memorial Hospital in Dunkirk. He is currently in stable condition.